Getting free hotel nights might sound like a clickbait headline—but it’s completely doable if you pick the right travel card and use the bonus strategically. I recently booked five nights at three different hotels, entirely with points earned from a single credit card bonus and some careful planning.
Here’s exactly how I did it, from choosing the right card to booking the stays—and what you can do to replicate it for your own trips.
The Travel Card I Used: Chase Sapphire Preferred
I signed up for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, which was offering a 60,000-point welcome bonus after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months.
Why this card?
- Strong bonus with low annual fee ($95)
- Points transfer 1:1 to hotel and airline partners
- 1.25x point value when booking through Chase Travel
- Excellent travel protections (trip delay, rental insurance)
I didn’t need premium lounge access or business-class perks—just a flexible card that could convert points into hotel stays, fast.
How I Earned the Bonus
To unlock the 60,000-point bonus, I spaced out purchases to hit the spend naturally:
- Paid my car insurance in advance
- Bought work-from-home equipment (monitor, desk chair)
- Covered groceries and dining with the card
- Booked an upcoming domestic flight
I avoided gift card tricks or manufactured spend. Within two months, I passed the $4,000 spend requirement, and the bonus posted shortly after the next billing cycle.
Total points earned:
60,000 bonus + ~4,000 from spend = 64,000 points
Choosing the Right Redemption Strategy
Now the question was: how to turn 64,000 points into 5 nights?
I considered two options:
Option 1: Book Through Chase Travel Portal
In the Chase portal, points are worth 1.25 cents each, so:
- 64,000 points = $800 in booking power
This would’ve covered maybe 2 or 3 nights at mid-tier hotels. Not bad—but I wanted more.
Option 2: Transfer to Hotel Partners
Chase partners with World of Hyatt, IHG, and Marriott Bonvoy, among others. I focused on Hyatt because their award chart consistently delivers the best cents-per-point value—often 1.5–2.5 cents per point.
I transferred 45,000 points to World of Hyatt, and kept the remaining points in Chase in case I needed to book through the portal later.
Booking My Free Hotel Nights
Here’s how I used those Hyatt points across two trips.
1. 2 Nights at Hyatt Place Savannah Airport (Georgia)
- Points per night: 8,000
- Total: 16,000 points
- Cash price: ~$160/night
- Redemption value: 2.0 cents per point
This hotel offered free breakfast, shuttle service, and was near my weekend cycling route. Solid amenities for a simple stay—and a great point value.
2. 3 Nights at Hyatt Regency Bali (Indonesia)
- Points per night: 10,000
- Total: 30,000 points
- Cash price: ~$200/night
- Redemption value: 2.0+ cents per point
This beachfront resort blew me away. Even better, Hyatt still offers no resort fees on award nights, which saved me an additional $100+.
Combined, these five nights would have cost around $920, but I paid nothing but the $95 annual fee on the card.
What Made This Strategy Work?
1. Choosing a Strong Transfer Partner
Many people don’t realize that not all hotel programs are equal. Hyatt offers far better point value than Marriott or IHG. For example:
| Hotel Brand | Typical Points Per Night | Value Per Point |
|---|---|---|
| Hyatt | 5,000–15,000 | 1.8–2.5¢ |
| Marriott | 35,000–50,000 | 0.7–1.0¢ |
| IHG | 25,000–70,000 | 0.5–0.8¢ |
If you want to maximize free nights, Hyatt is the clear choice when transferring points from Chase.
2. Avoiding High-Season Rates
I booked both stays during shoulder season—not peak travel dates. Hyatt’s award pricing is now dynamic, so off-season stays cost fewer points.
Pro tip: Use the Hyatt app to check award calendars by month to spot the lowest-point nights.
3. Booking Early
Many Hyatt hotels only release a limited number of standard award rooms. I booked my Bali trip nearly three months in advance to lock in availability before the price jumped.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
If you’re trying to do something similar, here are mistakes that can derail your free-night plan:
- Transferring to a hotel partner too soon — Points transfers are one-way. Only transfer when you’re ready to book.
- Redeeming through poor-value portals — If you’re getting less than 1 cent per point, consider transferring instead.
- Ignoring taxes/fees — Some hotel programs charge resort or destination fees on award nights. Hyatt typically doesn’t.
Other Travel Cards That Could Do the Same
The strategy I used works with other flexible-point travel cards too. Here are a few that offer similar hotel redemption options:
Chase Ink Business Preferred
- 100,000-point bonus
- Points transfer to Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
- $95 annual fee
Capital One Venture X
- 75,000–150,000 mile bonus
- Can be used for hotels in the Capital One Travel portal
- Transfer partners include Wyndham and Choice Hotels
Amex Gold Card
- 60,000-point bonus
- Transfers to Hilton and Marriott
- Better for flights than hotels, but can work with Hilton redemptions
Final Thoughts: Was It Worth It?
Absolutely. With one credit card and some intentional spending, I stayed five nights in well-reviewed hotels across two continents—without touching my bank account for lodging.
Key takeaways:
- Choose a card that earns transferable points
- Target programs with low award night rates (Hyatt > Marriott > IHG)
- Use tools like award calendars and off-season planning to stretch your points
If you’re strategic about it, you don’t need elite status or years of point hoarding to score free nights. One well-timed travel card offer could get you on the road—for free—sooner than you think.